Cylinder cube

ABSTRACT

A cylinder cube in one embodiment includes a disc base having an extending threaded shank; four cylindrical units each rotatably put on the shank and comprising four lengthwise sliding faces spaced around an outer surface, and four lengthwise sliding grooves each formed between two sliding groove; a plurality of arc shaped sliding blocks each comprising a lengthwise dovetail on an inner surface fit into the sliding groove; a cylindrical manipulation block rotatably put on the shank and comprising a lengthwise sliding recess on an outer surface and two lengthwise troughs on both sides of the sliding recess, the troughs and the sliding recess together forming a shape complementary to a shape of the sliding block, and the manipulation block sized as a combination of the unit and the sliding blocks assembled thereon; and a disc head threadedly secured to the shank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to combination puzzles and more particularly to a three-dimensional cylinder cube with improved characteristics.

2. Description of Related Art

There are many different puzzles known. One type of puzzle is fifteen puzzle which is a two-dimensional puzzle. However, it is less interesting. Thus, continuing improvements in the exploitation of puzzle are constantly being sought.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a cylinder cube.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of cylinder cube according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled cylinder cube;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of one unit and four sliding blocks of the cylinder cube of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembled unit and the sliding blocks of the cylinder cube of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of cylinder cube according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of one sliding block of the cylinder cube being extended where a piece configuration of 2×2 in character is shown;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 where a piece configuration of 3×3 in English alphabet is shown;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 where a piece configuration of 4×4 in number is shown;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6 where a piece configuration of 3×3 is shown; and

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 6 where a piece configuration of 4×4 is shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a cylinder cube in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The cylinder cube comprises the following components as discussed in detail below.

A disc shaped base 1 has a threaded shank 2 extending from one surface. A plurality of cylindrical units 4 each comprises an axial bore 41 rotatably put on the shank 2, four lengthwise sliding faces 42 equally spaced apart around an outer surface, and four lengthwise sliding grooves 43 equally spaced apart around the outer surface in which each sliding groove 43 is disposed between two adjacent ones of the sliding faces 42. The units 4 are formed of plastic.

A plurality of arc shaped sliding blocks 6 are formed of plastic. The sliding block 6 comprises a lengthwise dovetail 61 on an inner surface adapted to fit into the sliding groove 43 for interlocking the sliding block 6 and the unit 4 in which the remaining portion of the inner surface of the sliding block 6 is engaged with the sliding faces 42.

A cylindrical manipulation block 3 comprises an axial bore 31 adapted to rotatably put on the shank 2 after putting all of the units 4 and the sliding blocks 6 on the shank 2. The manipulation block 3 is sized as a combination of the unit 4 and four sliding blocks 6 assembled thereon so that a substantially complete cylinder can be assembled.

The manipulation block 3 further comprises a lengthwise sliding groove 33 on an outer surface and two lengthwise troughs 32 on both sides of the sliding groove 33. The sliding groove 33 and the troughs 32 together form a shape complementary to the shape of the sliding block 6 so that the sliding block 6 can be moved thereon in playing the cylinder cube. The manipulation block 3 is formed of plastic.

A disc shaped head 5 comprises a central threaded hole 51 on a bottom. The top of the shank 2 can be threadedly secured to the threaded hole 51 to construct a complete cylinder cube.

In use, a person may slidingly move the sliding block 6 onto the cutout formed by the sliding groove 33 and the troughs 32 and then remove another sliding block 6 and place same onto the vacant space left by the moved sliding block 6. Note that each of the manipulation block 3 and the units 4 can rotate.

Referring to FIG. 5, a cylinder cube in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the second preferred embodiment are detailed below. A bipod 7 is provided on either end of the cylinder cube. That is, one bipod 7 is provided at the head 5 and the other bipod 7 is provided at the base 1. The cylinder cube is implemented as a large one so as to be mounted in a park or a playing field.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 10, each sliding block 6 can be designed in one of a plurality of different configurations after being extended. For example, in FIG. 6, a piece configuration of 2×2 in character is shown; in FIG. 7, a piece configuration of 3×3 in English alphabet is shown; in FIG. 8, a piece configuration of 4×4 in number is shown; in FIG. 9, a piece configuration of 3×3 is shown; and in FIG. 10, a piece configuration of 4×4 is shown respectively.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims. 

1. A cylinder cube comprising: a disc shaped base having a threaded shank extending from one surface; a plurality of cylindrical units comprising an axial bore rotatably put on the shank, a plurality of lengthwise sliding faces equally spaced apart around an outer surface, and a plurality of lengthwise first sliding grooves equally spaced apart around the outer surface wherein each first sliding groove is disposed between two adjacent ones of the sliding faces; a plurality of arc shaped sliding blocks each comprising a lengthwise projection on an inner surface adapted to fit into the first sliding groove for securing the sliding block and the unit together; a cylindrical manipulation block comprising a lengthwise second sliding groove on an outer surface, two lengthwise troughs on both sides of the second sliding groove, the troughs and the second sliding groove together forming a shape complementary to a shape of the sliding block, and an axial bore rotatably put on the shank after putting all of the units on the shank wherein the manipulation block is sized as a combination of the unit and the sliding blocks assembled thereon; and a disc shaped head comprising a central threaded hole on a bottom secured to the shank.
 2. The cylinder cube of claim 1, wherein each of the units, the sliding blocks, and the manipulation block is formed of plastic.
 3. The cylinder cube of claim 1, wherein the number of the sliding blocks is four.
 4. The cylinder cube of claim 1, further comprising a first bipod for supporting the head and a second bipod for supporting the base.
 5. The cylinder cube of claim 1, wherein the projections are dovetails. 